Good Morning, Australia! – Jordan’s troubling offer to Islamic State – Nigeria is accused of failing to stop a civilian massacre it knew was going to happen – Your elderly family in the UK may face greater trials than you realize – And a lot more in your CareerSpot World News Briefs:

The 24-hour deadline for two hostages held by Islamic State (IS) has passed.  Jordan said it was willing to release a convicted terrorist bomber on death row in exchange for captured fighter pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh.  But the official didn’t mention Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, whom IS is also holding and was mentioned with al-Kasasbeh in a proposed prisoner swap – and any hope of getting Goto released seems to rest with Amman, not Tokyo which is tragically out of its depth in the Middle East.  IS killed another Japanese hostage over the weekend when its demand for US$200 Million was not met.

Amnesty International alleges that Nigeria's military top brass were warned of impending Boko Haram attacks on the northeast towns of Baga and Monguno, but failed to send reinforcements or to take any other proactive action.  As usual, Abuja dismissed Amnesty’s accusations.  Amnesty says the ignored-warnings came from the military’s own commanders on the ground in northern Borno state and independent sources.  The 3 January attacks resulted in around 2,000 civilian deaths according to surveillance satellite data, and towns were basically burned to the ground. 

US health officials are now linking 87 patients to the Disneyland measles outbreak, and it’s spreading across state and international borders.  Most of the patients are in Southern California, but people from five other western sand Midwestern states and Mexico are infected as well.  About a quarter of them are being treated in hospital.  Health officials have condemned the anti-vaccination or “anti-vaxxer” movement of people and parents who claim the MMR vaccine can other problems – these claims have been thoroughly debunked, and dwell in the fetid swamp of conspiracy theories.

The northeastern US is digging out after a massive snowstorm.  But Red Pandas LOVE it!

Social Service cuts mean the UK is spending less on its aging population, something to consider if your Parents or Grands still live over there.  Spending on care for people aged 65 and over has fallen by 20-percent in England over the last 10 years – from the equivalent of A$2,260 in 2004, to A$1,810 last year.  The BBC analysis shows it’s disproportionately effecting the most vulnerable.  “Older people who struggle with everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and cooking have been badly hit, as social care services have been withdrawn over time,” said Janet Morrison of the charity Independent Age.  “The knock-on effect of this has been to see a greater demand in the NHS, and in pinch points like A&E departments.”

A couple of gangs were caught on video getting into a brawl on a highway in Jiangxi, China.

Pity Ukraine.  Russia blames military action by Ukrainian government forces for leading to an “inevitable further escalation of the conflict” in eastern Ukraine, and undermining peace efforts (which the Russian-backed rebels reject, anyway).  Hours later, the US warned of new sanctions on Russia over new violence in eastern Ukraine, where the rebels have recently been seen rolling around in brand-spanking new Russian vehicles and tanks.

The UN says Hamas is responsible after dozens of Palestinians attacked a United Nations compound in Gaza after it was forced to halt its aid program for people affected by last year’s Gaza War.  This wasn’t the UN’s fault, donor nations have failed to step up and fund the program.  Angry civilians broke windows and burned tyres at the compound’s gate.  The UN accuses Hamas knowing about the impending attack and doing nothing to stop it or to keep the peace on Gaza streets.

Cubans react to Fidel Castro’s qualified endorsement to resuming relations with the US after 50+ years.